Apparatus for automatically opening cans, dispensing their contents, and flushing the cans



Feb. 9, 1954 H. BURGE 2,668,550

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING .CANS, DISPENSING v THEIR CONTENTS,AND FLUSHING THE! CANS Flled Dec 29 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l r i u ATTORNEYFeb. 9, 1954 H BURGE "2,668,550

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING CANS, DISPENSING THEIR CONTENTS, ANDFLUSHING THE CANS Filed Dec. 29 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Feb. '9,1954 Filed Dec. 29, 1950 H. BURGE APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENINGCANS, DISPENSING THEIR CONTENTS, AND FLUSHING THE CANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1954 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPEN- INGCANS, DISPENSING THEIR CONTENTS, AND FLUSHIN G THE CANS Harry Burge,Delphos, Ohio Application December 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,308

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved automatically operatingmachine for successively opening and eiiecting the discharge of thecontents of each of a plurality of filled and sealed v cans advancinglongitudinally and intermittently j along a confined course of traveland flushing the cans.

In various industrial establishments it is often necessary to open alarge number of cans containing various products and collect suchdispensed products for further usages. In accord- .ance with the presentinvention, I have provided an improved can-opening apparatus which em-,bodies a frame structure formed with a longitudinally extendingcan-holding guideway having associated therewith motor-driven means foreffecting positive but intermittent advance of a plurality ofproduct-containing cans along the ,guideway.

The present invention further comprehends I hereafter, when thepenetrating device is sub- .,'sequently elevated, axially formedperforations Q will be .provided in both the top and bottom walls ofthe"p'erforated cam-enabling the contents of the latter to be quicklydischarged under the ac- 'tion of gravity and suitably collected fordesireduses. The construction of the can'-penet'rating portion of thecutting device is such as to depress in its operation the bottom of thecan centrally toward the opening produced in the bottom bythe cutting orpenetrating device, and to thereby assist in effecting a further and.complete drainage of the can contents.

Further, the invention comprehends a vertically slidable frame-carriedcrosshead with which the cutting instrumentality or device is connectedfor vertical reciprocation, the cross- .head being power-driven and soactuated that when the cans on the frame gu'ideway arein motion,bringing a fresh unpenetrated can into vertical registry with thepuncturing or penetrating device, the latter occupies an elevatedposition free of the motion of the moving cans, and

x when said cans are caused to come to rest, an

unpenetrated leading can will be brought into alignment with thepenetrating device. Again, the present invention includes apressure-actuated flushing head which is connected with the verticallyreciprocable crosshead in laterally offset relationship with respect tothe penetrating device, so that when the latter is lowered to penetratethetop and bottom of a can, the said flushing head will besimultaneously lowered and caused to enter the interior of a canpreviously perforated by said device, whereby through the provision ofthe apparatus, there take place simultaneously the operations ofpenetrating a can to liberate its contents, and the flushing with Wateror other liquid of a can from which the contents thereof have beendrained.

Further, the present invention provides a valve mechanism positioned ina fluid supply line leading to the pressure-actuated flushing head,whereby when the head occupies an operative position within a puncturedcan, liquid under pressure is delivered thereto, escaping in variousdirections through angularly related ports present in the head toproduce a thorough cleansing or scouring action upon the interior wallsof the can to remove substantially completely contents which normallyadhere to said inner walls after the major portion of such contents havebeen removed therefrom.

It is, therefore, an object of the present in vention to provideimproved apparatus for carrying out the above identified features ofoperation.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter which is essentially simple in construction, positive inoperation and capable of being employed over prolonged periods of timewithout requiring adjustment, at-

' tention, repairs or causing shut-downs because of mechanical failures.

.For afurther understanding of the invention,

' reference is to be had to the annexed drawings,

which show a single preferred embodiment of myinvention.

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved automatic can opening,cleaning and dispensing apparatus comprising the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through theapparatus and disclosing the can-penetrating device in its loweredposition;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing on an enlarged scale and in greaterdetail the can-penetrating device in its lowered position, andillustrating the depression produced in the bottom wall of a canpenetrated by the device;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line V-Vof Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view disclosing the operationof penetrating a can with the tubular cutter of the present inventionand also of scouring or rinsing each can penetrated or opened by thecutter;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view disclosing the lower endof the cutter;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View taken through the scouring head; 1

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on theline lilI3ofFig.9.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there has been indicated at10 a frame structure on which is supported the can-opening mechanism ofthe present invention. In this instance,

' the structure includes upright leg members shown at ll, the latterbeing joined by suitable transverse members I2 in producing a rigidstructure. Forming a part of the frame structure are spaced parallelangle rails l3, which extend horizontally and longitudinally of thestructure. In this instance, there is positioned between the members $3an open-topped tank H for the re ception of the contents of cans openedby the apparatus of the present invention. The tank,

as shown, is formed with an inclined bottom l5, which slopes toward asump I6 provided in the tank at one end of the frame structure, the sumpbeing equipped with a valved outlet H, or its equivalent. The top of thetank is open and is disposed in a horizontal plane immediately beneath alongitudinally extending guid'eway 18 formed by the frame structurebetween its angle members l3 and the sides l'3a, and along whichguideway a plurality of cans disposed vertically and in row formationare intermittently advanced.

The cans may be delivered to the receiving end of the guideway 18 bymeans of an inclined conveyor way indicated at l9, and thereby broughtinto registry with the peripheral edge of a pair of 'J'oined rotatingdisks 20. These disks are each formed circumferentially with an arcuaterecess or notch 2!, the dimensions of which being such as to engage acan, indicated at 22, and move the can from the receiving portion 23 ofthe guideway I8 and along the arcuate extension 24 thereof, pushing thecans ahead of the can engaged by the disk so that the preceding cans areadvanced longitudinally but intermittently along the guidweay. At thesame time the cans gravitate from the conveyor way 19 and are depositedon the receiving portion 23 of the guideway [8 in registry with aperipheral edge of the disk 20 and subsequently with the can-receivingand propelling notch 2! of said disk, thereby obtaining intermittent canmovement.

To drive the can-advanci g disks 28, I preferably employ an electricmotor indicated at 25. The latter is mounted on a shelf 26 projectingfrom the lower portion of the frame structure [0.

' Through suitable speed-reducing gearing disthis sprocket there passesthe links of an endless chain 33. The latter is also trained over asprocket 34 which is carried by a, shaft 35, the latter being supportedin the casing 31 of a second speed-reducing gearing. This latter gearingdrives a vertical shaft 38 at a desired rate of speed, the disks 20being fixed to the upper end of the shaft 38. It will be understood thatvarious other equivalent mechanisms may be employed for rotating thecan-advancing disk or disks 29 in lieu of the specific mechanism setforth. In this mechanism, however, the motor 25 through thespeed-reducing gearing arranged in the casing 2'! drives the shaft 28carrying the sprocket 29and the chain 33, whereby, through thespeed-reducing gearing contained in the casing 31, desired rotationalspeeds are imparted to the disk shaft 38. Through a pinion 30 mounted onthe shaft 28, motion is imparted to a gear 31 mounted on a countershaft32, which is journaled as at 320. on the frame structure, thecountershaft being driven by the pinion 30 engaging with the gear 31.

On the outer ends of the counter shaft 32, there are mounted forrotation in a vertical plane disks 39. Pivoted as at 49 in eccentricrelation to the axis of rotation of said disks are the lower ends of apair of pitman rod 4|, the upper ends of said rods being pivoted as at42 to a crosshead 43 slidably mounted in an inverted U-shaped frame 44,and which extends upwardly and rigidly from the frame structure itsubstantially mid-way of the length of the latter.

As the disks 39 rotate, vertical reciprocatory movement is thus impartedto the crosshead 43. The crosshead is formed with a plurality ofvertically spaced transversely extending rigid cross members 45. Securedby the strap or cleats 46, or their equivalents, to these cross membersis the upper portion of a vertically disposed tubular cutter device 41,the lower portion of said device being beveled on an angle, as indicatedat 48. The throw imparted to the crosshead by the disk 39 and the pitmanrod 4| is such that when said crosshead is elevated, the lower end 48 ofthe device is disposed above the horizontal plane defining the tops ofthe cans positioned in the guideway 18.

As a result of the action of the notched canmoving disk 20, the cansmove intermittently along the guideway l8 in calculated increments oflinear travel corresponding to the diameter of the cans being handled.Through this arrangement, the cans are brought progressively andconsecutively into vertical axial alignment to the tubular cutting andpenetrating device 41. The timing of the mechanism is such that when thecutting device reaches a point in its movement above the cans, thelatter are then advanced bodily and longitudinally by the actionofthe'disk or disks 29.

When such longitudinal movement is terminated, a filled can will bedisposed in alignment with and immediately below the cutter device,whereby as the latter descends, the top and bottom walls of the can,indicated at 49 and '50, respectively, will be axially penetrated by thecutter device. In this regard, it will be noted, by reference to Fig. 3,that as the cutter devicepasses through the lower end wall 5|] of a can,its action is to produce a depression 5| around the opening 52 formed inthe bottom 53 by the cutter device. When the latter is subsequentlyelevated, and withdrawn from the can, the can contents are free to flowunder the action of gravity through the opening 52, the same beingcollected in the tank l4.

After opening or puncturing a given can, the

a sence cutteris elevated and withdrawn froma can by the action of thecrosshead and its drive mechanism so that the disk or disks 20 areallowed to operate to advance the cans in the guideway IS a distanceequivalent to the diameter of one can before movement of the cans isarrested. This oper ation brings a fresh unpunctured caninto verticalregistry with the penetrating cutter, causing'the can last punctured orperforated to be moved from the puncturing position shown at A on theguideway to the drainage position indicated at B. Thus, while thefollowing can is being punctured by the descent of the cutting orpenetrating tool or device 41, the contents of-the immediately precedingcan, occupying the position indicated at B, are allowed to drain as faras their viscosity and the action of gravity will permit. In the nextoperation of the disks 2!].

v the first-punctured can is moved to the flushing thereby assuringcomplete removal of the can contents through the automatic operation ofmy improved apparatus.

To supply the head 53 with fluid under pressure, the crosshead 43carries rigid pipe members 54 which project laterally in offset relationfrom the vertical plane of the crosshead, said pipe members including adepending extension 54' on the bottom of which the head 53 is carried.The

rigidity of the pipe members 54 enable the same to move unitarily withthe crosshead, so that as the latter is lowered to cause thecan-penetrating device to pass through the top and bottom walls of a canin position A, the head 53 is simultaneously lowered, passing throughthe opening in the top of a can occupying position C in the drawings,entering the interior of this can. A- fluidadvancing pipe line 54aincludes a valve 56 having an operating stem 51 which is actuated by thepivotally movable lever arm 58.

As the crosshead moves downwardly, the outer end of the arm 58 engages afixed frame-carried stop 58a, moving the stem 51 against springresistance and opening the valve 56, thereby allowing a fluid, such aswater, to enter the head 53 under pressure and to issue from said headthrough ports provided therein, striking forcibly all the inner wallsurfaces of the can undergoing cleaning. The rigid pipe members 54 and54' of this fluid-conducting system include a flexible hose connection59, whereby to compensate for the vertical reciprocation of thecrosshead in relation to the stationary pipes through which fluid isadvanced under pressure to the flushing head. When the arm 58 leaves itsengagement with the stop device 58a, causing the arm to rock,

the spring means acting on the valve 56 will cause the latter to assumea position of closure, arresting liquid flow to and from the head 53. Asthe crosshead is elevated to remove the cutting tool from thecan-occupying position A on the guideway, the flushing head is likewiseremovedlfrom a can occupying position C, so that the entire linear rowof cans located on the guideway I8 may then be advanced by thesubsequent operation of the disks 20. The empty. cans aresuitablydischarged from the free end of the guide- W y, and may be flattened orcompressed by means of the apparatus disclosed in my prior application,SerialNo. 195,164 filed November 13,- 1950, now abandoned, or may beotherwise utilized.

The cutter tube 41 has its lower beveled end 48 provided internally witha stationary curling bar 60. Said bar in its operation causes-the cantopto curlas at 6| as the same is undergoing cutting, preventing theformation of free metallic particles incident to the can puncturing orpenetration by thecutter 41. The frame 44 carries a stationary shearingplate 62, which is disposed adjacent to the upper end wall 49 of thecan, to prevent a penetrated can from lifting in unison with the cuttertube as the latter progresses on its inactive or withdrawing movement-Normally the plate 62 is spaced from the upper portions of the cans.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, particularly, the

- spray head 53 advantageously may be composed of a pair of internallythreaded members indicated at and 66, the former being carried on thelower end of the depending pipe extension 54. A set screw 51 may be usedto positively hold the member 65 against undue rotation.

In the construction illustrated, the member 65 carries an internalsleeve 68, one end of the sleeve being externally threaded in order tobe received within the internal threads of the member 65, while theother end of the sleeve 68 is externally threaded to receive theinternal threads of the member 66.

Intermediately of its length, the sleeve 68 is provided with annularrows of spaced fluid outlet ports 69. These ports register with annularspaces shown at 10 and 1| in Fig. 9, the spaces being formed between theadjacent ends of the members 65 and 66 and a circular rib 12 integrallyformed with and projecting circumferentially from the sleeve 68. In thisinstance, the rib 12 is provided with reversely. inclined surfaces 13contiguous to itsouter circumference, which are disposed normally inspaced relation from complemental annularly beveled walls 14 provided onadjacent ends of the members 65 and 66, whereby to produce annularoutlet grooves 15 through which the water or other cleansing fluid mayissue under pressure and in relatively angular relation, as disclosed atE and F in Fig. 6.

After the head 53 first enters a can, the timing of the valve 56 is suchas to cause fluid to issue therefrom under pressure, scouring the undersurfaces'of the top can walls 49 and also the sides of the verticalcylindrical walls, such scouring action being continued as the headfirst moves upwardly and secondly downwardly while in the can occupyingthe position C, assuring a thorough removal of adhering can contentsfrom the inner walls of each can.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that I haveprovided novel and efficient apparatus for rapidly puncturing andopening hermetically sealed or closed cans in a manner effective toproduce'discharge of the contents of such cans and the complete removalof the can contents from the can interiors. The opening or puncturingapparatus by which the cans are penetrated through the top and bottomend walls thereof render such cans nonreflllable'or reusable. Theoperation of the machine is entirelyautomatic'and dispenses withoperations heretofore executed manually.

" "It will beappreciated that while' I have shown and described asinglepreferred' embodiment 'of my invention, 1- do not wish to belimited to the details of'constructiondisclosed since it will, be

effecting intermittent advancing movement of a linearly disposed row ofadjacent cans along said trough, power-actuated can-penetrating meansmounted on said frame, said penetrating means being engageable with acan positioned on said trough when. the engaged can is at rest,:

and actuating mechanism for causing said penetrating means to passaxially completely through said cans in successive order in a mannerpenetrating opposite end walls thereof to form discharge openings forthe can contents 2. Automatic can-opening. apparatus; comprising: aframe structure formed witha longitudinally extending guideway,power-driven means arranged at one end of said guideway for. effectingintermittent advancing movement of. alinearly disposed row ofcansarranged in side by side vertical order along said guideway, asingle can-penetrating cutter mounted on said frame structure abovesaid, guideway, means synchronizing the operation of said cutter with'the means for intermittently advancing cans along said guideway, wherebyto bringsaid cans successively into vertical registry withzand beneathsaid cuttenand mechanism operative to cause the latter when the cans areat. rest to move downwardly to penetrate successively both the top andbottom end walls of said cans to form contents-discharging openingstherein.

3. Automatic can-opening apparatus comprising: a frame structure formedwith a longitudi-' by side vertical order along said guidewayn timebeneath said cutter in axial registration with the latter, and means formoving said cutter relative to an engaged can to cause said cutter topenetrate successively opposing end walls of the can, producing axialopenings in said end Walls. for the discharge of its contents.

6. Automatic can-opening apparatus comprising: a frame including acanholder, means for successively feeding filled cans to said holder, asingle reciprocable cutter carried by said frame, and means for movingsaid cutter into engagement with a can positioned on said holder tocause the cutter to penetrate successively both top and bottom. endwalls of a can to form axial openings therein.

7. Can-opening apparatus comprising: a frame structure formed with alongitudinally extending I can-receiving guideway, power-driven meansfor effecting intermittent advancing movement of a linearly disposed rowof cans arranged in side by side order along said guideway, acutter-frame arising from said first-named frame above said guideway, acan-penetrating cutter mounted for reciprocation in said cutter frame,an actuating motor, and synchronized motion-imparting means driven bysaid motor operative to effect reciprocation of said cutter betweenintervals of can movement on said guideway to cause the 8. Incan-opening apparatus, a frame structure formed with a longitudinallyextending can-receiving guideway, a rotatable disk arranged in one endof said guideway, said disk being formed l .with a peripheral, notchextending inwardly from a circular edge defining the disk periphery,motor-driven means for impartingv rotation continuously to said disk andthereby effecting intermittent advancing movement of a linearly dislposed row of cans along said guideway through forces exerted by a canoccupying the notch of said disk on a preceding row of cans on saidguideway, a singlecutter means disposed intermediately of the length ofsaid guideway, said a vertically reciprocable can-penetrating cuttermounted for confined slidingmovement above said guideway, meanssynchronizing the operation of said cutter with the means for,intermittently advancing cans along saidguideway,

. both the top and bottom'end walls of said 031115;:

to form contents-discharging openings therein, and a receiving tank forthe contents of cans penetrated by said cutter while the cans arepositioned on said guideway.

4. Automatic can-opening apparatus ing: a frame structure; power-drivenmeans eif'ecting intermittent longitudinal advancing movement to alinearly disposed. row of cans supported by said frame structure, and. asingle vertically reciprocable can-penetrating means successivelyengageable with thetop and bottom end walls of said cans topenetrate thesame and form openings therein, such penetration taking place while thecans are at rest.-.-

5. In can-opening apparatus, a framda vertically reciprocable hollowcylindrical cutter carried by said frame, said cutterh-aving asharpenedand angularly disposed point-forming end,

cutter means being arranged normally above the can on said guideway, andmeans driven synchronously with the operation of said disk for causingsaid cutter means to penetrate cans ,occupying a predetermined positionon said guideway to-produce openings successively in both the top andbottom end walls of the penetrated cans.

9. In can-opening apparatus, a frame structure formed with alongitudinally extending can-receiving guideway, a rotatable diskarranged in one end of said guideway, said disk being formed with aperipheral notch extending inwardly from a circular edge defining the.disk periphery,

motor-driven means for imparting rotation continuously to said disk andthereby effecting interforces exerted by a can occupying the notch ofsaid disk on apreceding row of cans on said guideway, cutter meansdisposed intermediately of the length of said guideway, said cuttermeans being disposed normally in a plane above the can on the guideway,means driven synchronously with the operation of said disk for causingsaid cutter means to penetrate successively cans occupying apredetermined position on said guidewayto produce openings in both thetop and bottom end walls .of the penetrated cans, and a :head for.discharging a flashing liquid under pressure into the interior of cansperforated by said cutter means.

10. In a can-opening machine, a frame structure formed with alongitudinally extending canreceiving guideway, power-driven meanseffecting intermittent advancing movement of a linearly disposed row ofcans along said guideway, poweractuated can-penetrating means arrangedadjacent to and normally above said guideway, said last-named meanshaving end-penetrating 'engagement with the top and bottom walls of acan occupying a predetermined position on the guideway, said penetratingmeans serving to produce openings in the top and bottom end walls of acan penetrated thereby, whereby to cause drainage of the can contentswhile the penetrated can is retained in an upright position on saidguideway, a flushing head movable in unison with said can-penetratingmeans into the interior of a can through the opening produced in the topend wall of the can by said penetrating means, and valve-controlledmeans for supplying a liquid under pressure to said head for dischargefrom the latter only when said head occupies a position within theinterior of a can.

11. In automatic can-opening and contentsdischarging apparatus, a frameformed with a guideway, means for advancing a row of upright cans inadjacent order longitudinally and intermittently of said guideway, avertically reciprocable hollow cylindrical cutter carried by said frame,said cutter having a sharpened and angularly disposed point-forming end,means for moving said cutter to cause the same to penetrate successivelythe top and bottom end walls of said cans to produce axial openings insaid walls, the support for said cans provided by said frame being suchas to enable the cutter to pass through and below the bottom walls ofeach can to turn the material comprising said bottom wall downwardly infunnel-like fashion, whereby to cause a free outflow of the contents ofthe penetrated cans when the cutter is removed from engagementtherewith.

12. In automatic mechanism for discharging the contents of filled cans,a frame forming a longitudinally extending guideway for the reception ofa row of vertically arranged cans, means for imparting intermittentmovement to the cans positioned in said guideway, a verticallyreciprocable head carried by said frame above said cans, a cuttercarried by said head, said cutter being arranged in vertical registrywith the axis of each of said cans as the latter are intermittentlymoved along said guideway, means synchronized with the movement of saidcans for causing said head and cutter to descend in a manner penetratingsuccessively the top and bottom end walls of a can positioned invertical registry with the cutter, the support provided for said cans bysaid frame being such as to enable the cutter to pass completely throughthe bottom end Wall of an engaged can and depress said bottom wallaround the opening formed therein by said cutter, and means carried bysaid head in a position to enter an opening formed in the top end Wallof each cutter-penetrated can to discharge a flushing liquid over theinner wall surfaces of each can to remove adhering contents.

13. In automatic mechanism for discharging the contents of filled cans,a frame forming a longitudinally extending guideway for the reception ofa row of vertically arranged cans, means for imparting intermittentmovement to the cans positioned in said guideway, a verticallyreciprocable head carried by said frame above said cans, a cuttercarried by said head, said cutter being arranged in vertical registrywith the axis of each of said cans as the latter are intermittentlymoved along said guideway, means synchronized with the movement of saidcans for causing said head and cutter to descend in a manner penetratingsuccessively the top and bottom end walls of a can positioned invertical registry with the cutter, the support provided for said cans bysaid frame being such as to enable the cutter to pass completely throughthe bottom end wall of an engaged can and depress said bottom wallaround the opening formed therein by said cutter, means carried by saidhead in a position to enter an opening formed in the top end wall ofeach cutter-penetrated can to discharge a flushing liquid over the innerwall surfaces of each can to remove adhering contents, and anopen-topped receptacle arranged beneath said guideway in position toreceive the contents of the can penetrated by said cutter and removed bythe action of said flushing means.

HARRY IBURGE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,893,831 Weber Jan. 10, 1933 2,084,973 John June 22, 1937FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 535,172 Great Britain Apr. 1. 1941

